Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Commanding Officer Capt. Michael K. Nortier will turn over command of the air station to Capt. Geoffrey C. Moore on Friday, Feb. 19.
The change of command ceremony is set for 10 a.m., in the Indoor Wash Rack Facility. Guest speaker for the event is Rear Adm. Jeffrey S. Ruth, Commander, Navy Region Northwest.
Under Nortier’s tenure, Commander, Naval Installations Command chose NAS Whidbey Island as the top U.S. Navy installation in the country late last year in recognition of support to active duty Sailors and their families, good stewards of the environment and dynamic relationships with the community, according to a Navy press release.
Also under his leadership, the base won an Environmental Stewardship Award for 2013 and runner up for large shore command in 2014. Other accolades include three consecutive Secretary of the Navy Energy and Water Management Awards during his three-year tour.
Nortier is retiring from the U.S. Navy after 26 years of naval service and will reside in Oak Harbor.
Moore, a native of Middletown, Conn., graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1992. He was designated a Naval Aviator in 1994 and completed initial training in the SH-60F and HH-60H helicopters in 1995.
Moore’s early flying assignments include aircraft carrier-based squadron and Carrier Air Wing staff tours aboard USS Independence (CV 62), USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), and USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Assignments ashore included duty as the Rotary Wing Weapon School Training Officer at the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, Operations Center Battle Captain at U.S. Northern Command Joint Headquarters National Capital Region Operations, and Deputy Readiness Officer at Commander, Naval Air Forces Pacific.
Moore earned a master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in January 2007.
He commanded HS-14 in Atsugi, Japan, leading his squadron during Operation Tomodachi and two deployments aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73).
Moore accumulated more than 3,600 hours during his career and is honored to have served for multiple Battle ‘E’ and Safety ‘S’ winning squadrons.
Moore will assume command of the Navy’s sole air station in the Pacific Northwest. The installation employs more than 7,200 active duty military and over 2,400 Department of Defense civilians and contract employees.
The annual economic impact the base brings to Island County and surrounding communities is $1.085 Billion, according to a press release issued by the Navy.
